Science-based Medicine Blog – Page 29

Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Graded Exercise Therapy: How the PACE Trial Got It Wrong

Apr 4, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDChronic fatigue, Clinical trials, Science-based Medicine Blogadaptive pacing therapy, chronic fatigue syndrome, cognitive behavioral therapy, graded exercise therapy, PACE trial

The PACE trial said graded exercise is an effective treatment for CFS. CFS patients disagree. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and the recently-suggested IOM term systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID), is characterized by long-term fatigue and a host of other symptoms that impair the patient’s ability to function. It sometimes develops after

Stem Cells for Macular Degeneration: Meticulous Science vs. Unethical Carelessness

Mar 28, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDBasic science, Clinical trials, Medical ethics, Ophthalmology, Science-based Medicine BlogBasic science, blindness, induced human pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs, macular degeneration, stem cells, surgical mishaps

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss in people over 50. Thirty percent of us will develop it by age 75-85. There is no cure. For the 10% of patients with wet AMD there are several mainstream treatments that can slow progression of the disease, including drugs injected into the eye,

Dietary Associations with Cardiovascular and Diabetic Mortality: “Bacon, soda, and too few nuts”?

Mar 21, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDNutrition, Science-based Medicine Blogcardiometabolic deaths, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dietary associations with deaths, preventable deaths

A recent study attempted to quantify the association of ten dietary factors with deaths from cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Headlines about the study were misleading. How likely is bacon to kill you? I’ve been seeing differing headlines about a recent study: MDLinx said, “Bacon, soda and too few nuts tied to big portion of US

Update on Testosterone Supplementation

Mar 14, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDClinical trials, Science-based Medicine BlogAndroGel, low t, testosterone

Testosterone supplementation is a legitimate treatment for properly-diagnosed androgen deficiency, but it is being overprescribed by doctors who make exaggerated claims for it. New evidence clarifies its modest benefits and worrisome risks. Lots of men are taking testosterone supplements, some of them for good reasons and some for not-so-good reasons. There are Low-T clinics that

Magnets Provide Amusement, But Not Health Benefits

Mar 7, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDEnergy Medicine, Humor, Medical devices, Science-based Medicine Blogmagnet therapy, magnetic bracelets, magnets, static magnets

Over the years, the claims for health benefits of magnets have provided me with much amusement. Here are just a few examples: A skeptic pointed out that if magnets in health products really attracted red blood cells as claimed, an MRI scan with magnets many orders of magnitude stronger would be deadly: your blood would

Why Do Things That Are Unlikely to Harm Us Get the Most Attention?

Feb 28, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDBook Reviews, Cancer, Herbs and supplements, Science-based Medicine Blogaristolochia, BPA, cancer, cell phones, cognitive pitfalls, endocrine disruptors, environmental research, human papillomavirus, Kabat, risk

We are very bad at assessing risk, often giving the most attention to the things that are least likely to harm us. Geoffrey Kabat’s new book teaches us how to think more clearly about scientific studies of environmental health risks. Sharks get a lot of bad press and inspire a lot of fear, but in

Natural Remedies for Diabetes: Plavinol, Glucopure

Feb 14, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDHerbs and supplements, Science-based Medicine Blogdiabetes, dietary supplements for diabetes, Glucopure, herbal remedies, Plavinol

There is not enough evidence to support using dietary supplements in the treatment of diabetes. There is preliminary evidence that some herbs lower blood sugar by a modest amount, but it would be foolish to think they could replace conventional treatment of diabetes. There is good news for diabetics; unfortunately, it is fake news based

Re-thinking Antioxidant Supplementation for Macular Degeneration

Feb 7, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDClinical trials, Herbs and supplements, Science and medicine, Science-based Medicine BlogAMD, AREDS, blindness, eye vitamins, macular degeneration

After the AREDS trial, people with moderate to severe age-related macular degeneration were advised to take dietary supplements to slow the progression of the disease. But some experts say the trial actually showed supplements don’t work, and might even make some patients worse. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. Known risk

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: An Update

Jan 31, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDHerbs and supplements, Science-based Medicine Blogcontaminants, Himalayan pink salt, radioactivity, sea salt, trace minerals

The claims of health benefits from pink Himalayan sea salt are not supported by a shred of evidence. In fact, its vaunted “84 trace minerals and elements” include several poisons and many radioactive elements. In 2014 I wrote an article about salt in which I disparaged Himalayan pink salt. Perhaps I didn’t disparage it enough. It is

Flame Retardants Have Ignited a Flaming Controversy

Jan 24, 2017Harriet A. Hall, MDPolitics and Regulation, Science-based Medicine Blogchemical contaminants, environment, fire safety, flame retardants, Joe Schwarcz, PBDEs, PFAS, Tris

Flame retardants are controversial: proponents say they reduce fire damage and save lives; critics say they don’t work, are poisoning our environment, and should be banned. Flame retardants are a controversial subject. Many fire departments and chemical industry sources praise retardants for reducing fire damage and saving lives. Critics say they do more harm than